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Issue 1465 April 22, 2012
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Notre Dame Quarterback Everett Golson threw for 4, er, 3 TDs against Florida State. This referee's last-"pass interference" call was the difference in the outcome.

BAD CALL!!! Notre Dame Won the Game But Ref & Florida State Snatch it Back

October 19, 2014       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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The dramatic tableau that played out in the waning seconds of the Florida State-Notre Dame game spotlighted many things wrong about football.

However, the excitment, the drama, the heart-wrenching back and forth is what is right, good and makes the game so riveting.

Notre Dame actually won the game, in my opinion, but the politics dictated Florida State was invincible; its winning streak was on the line and the referee just had to find a way to preserve it.

This contest offered an array of characters worthy of a Greek tragedy.

*The Quarterback "God" who can do no wrong despite his unsavory activities off the field.

*The sagacious coach (Lord Jimbo) whose wisdom is infallible.

*The winning team for which triumph is a virtual right.

The boys from Notre Dame, whose fans have been known to be a little overconfident at home, were not buying the Seminole air of invincibility. They led until late in the game, defying the "rule" of the BCS mandarins that No. 5 should never beat No. 2.

I officiated football for 20 years and don't presume to know everything; it is a highly complicated game with mind-boggling rules. But I do know that there can be no offensive pass interference if the defensive player did not have a chance to catch the pass.

We used to call them "homers," refs who favored the home team. The presence of thousands of screaming fans, making rhythmical tomahawk motions to the stirring music of a massive band, set the tone for injustice.

By the way, how does Florida State escape the criticism leveled against, say, the Washington Redskins?

Even the costumed "Indian," the damn spotted Appaloosa horse and the feathered spear reek of stereotyping of the first order, the worst order. Not to mention the home crowd's tomahawk mantra, designed to strike fear into opponents' hearts.

But Notre Dame did not quail before the overwhelming throng of scalp seekers; it was forced, in the end, to bow before the Great God Jimbo Fisher and his lackey Winston, whose off the field excesses are legendary already.

No doubt Jameis Winston's NFL contract would have been reduced by millions of dollars if his team had lost this monumental struggle with the Irish.

Who knows if the Notre Dame players would have escaped scalping had they had the temerity to destroy the Seminole dreams in the closing seconds of the game?

The last second call ironically gave the Irish a final chance from the 18 which was really no chance.

The pass to Robinson on 4th and 2 with 13 seconds to go that succeeded was a shock and a surprise.

After the penalty call, and the element of surprise was gone the Seminoles were alerted to the impending disaster and were able to stave off the Grim Reaper in the person of Everett Golson, Notre Dame QB and his Angels of Doom, receivers personified by Corey Robinson.

Golson's pass attempt from the 18 was a wounded duck intercepted in the end zone to end the game.

"It looks like the right call," wrote Rodger Sherman for S-B Nation. "Notre Dame wide receivers C.J. Prosise and William Fuller are there to create space for Robinson as he comes across the formation, and Prosise doesn't even really hide the fact that he's essentially blocking for Robinson."

Blocking to create space is not pass interference in my book. If that was true every downfield block on a d-back would be flagged as illegal.

Actually, if you watch the replay tape, it looks like the Florida State d-backs were trying to cover up Irish receivers Prosise and Fuller while Robinson flashed across to get the ball without a challenge, waltzing untouched into the end zone.

Winston may pay the ultimate price as the sports world will exact revenge in his trial in the court of public opinion for selling autographs. And his trial on sexual assault, which the college appears to be delaying until the season is over, may jeopardize his NFL career as well.



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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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